Rams get seven sacks and go to 7-0 with beatdown of San Francisco 49ers

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Aaron Donald of the Rams reacts after a sack of C.J. Beathard of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. It was one of Donald’s four sacks in the game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: KhaDarel Hodge #11 and Bryce Hager #54 of the Los Angeles Rams dive for a blocked punt in the endzone during their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a sack of C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Aaron Donald of the Rams reacts after a sack of C.J. Beathard of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. It was one of Donald’s four sacks in the game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers dives on a fumbled snap against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams dives for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams is worked on by the training staff following a hit during their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes with the ball with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams scrambles with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Micah Kiser #59 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with Malcolm Brown #34 and KhaDarel Hodge #11 after a saftey on a blocked punt against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with his teammates after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams strips the ball from Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Fans wear banana suits in the stands during the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up prior to their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 21: Troy Hill #32 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with head coach Sean McVay after an interception of C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Rams defensive back John Johnson III (43) intecepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) runs past San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. Also pictured at left is Rams center John Sullivan (65). (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Los Angeles Rams defensive back John Johnson III (43) celebrates with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

SANTA CLARA — Standards are high in the Donald household, it seems. So when Dad arrived home Sunday night, with only four sacks on his personal ledger, he faced his toughest critic.

“My daughter wanted me to get 10,” Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said with a grin.

So there’s always room for improvement. Don’t mention that San Francisco quarterback C.J. Beathard, who became well-acquainted with Donald’s mouthwash and deodorant preferences. Donald recorded a career high in sacks as the Rams’ defense battered the 49ers and recorded a 39-10 victory at Levi’s Stadium.

The Rams improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1985, when they reached the NFC championship game. The Rams also recorded their largest margin of victory over the 49ers (1-6) since 1966 and seem well-placed going into two huge games, against Green Bay and New Orleans, that could define this season.

“A game like this was definitely a trap game,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers said, “where you had one of the best teams against one of the worst teams. The best team could come out and be lackadaisical and the other team could come out and surprise them. It’s hard to get wins in this league.”

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Here’s the thing: the Rams could be better. For a moment, set aside Donald’s manhandling, which also included a forced (and recovered) fumble and two other tackles for loss. The Rams’ offense looked a bit disjointed, particularly in the red zone, and star back Todd Gurley didn’t get his usual wide running lanes.

Near-perfection now is the standard, which is the ultimate testament to how far the Rams have come in just 24 regular-season games under Coach Sean McVay. Most teams would kill to have the Rams’ flaws.

They probably would commit multiple other felonies to have Donald. In what might have been the most dominant display of a five-year career — which included an NFL defensive player of the year award in 2017 — Donald dominated and, in particular, had two plays that might eventually go on his Hall of Fame reel.

Late in the first quarter, during a carry by 49ers running back Matt Breida, Donald got a meaty arm around Breida and pulled the ball out of his grasp. Donald fell to the ground, back-first, but held onto the ball. Three plays later, the Rams scored a touchdown to take a 10-0 lead.

“Yeah,” Donald said, with what bordered on a giggle. “Just being strong.”

Just three minutes later, Donald rushed against 49ers center Weston Richburg, a 290-pound human. Donald bumped Richburg once and knocked him back a stride. Donald smacked Richburg again and sent him stumbling backward into Beathard for a sack. Donald never even touched Beathard.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that’s been like him in the NFL,” 49ers left tackle Joe Staley said. “He’s in a class of his own. At the end of the day, he’s still an NFL player and our job is block him.”

Well, maybe next time. Donald’s monstrous effort simply was the highlight for a Rams defense that forced four turnovers and recorded seven sacks. The 49ers gained 228 yards, and only had that many because the Rams didn’t quite know what to do with talented tight end George Kittle, who had 98 yards.

Otherwise, the Rams dominated. Of Beathard’s 34 dropbacks, 19 ended with a sack, an interception or, mercifully, the ball falling to the ground untouched. The Rams entered the game with only 8 turnovers in 6 games, but the secondary also played well Sunday, as Troy Hill and John Johnson had interceptions.

“We didn’t have to cover for long, I’ll tell you that,” Johnson said. “I started back-pedalling and then he was sacked. It was great. (Number) 99 is a beast.”

Donald’s dominance also helped the offense, which totaled only 331 yards — that’s quite low for the Rams — but didn’t have to travel far for points. Because of the turnovers and strong defense in general, the Rams had four touchdown drives that required a total of only 101 yards.

The Rams scored 24 points off the 49ers’ four turnovers and, even on a relatively quiet day, Gurley reached the end zone three times. Gurley wasn’t even the Rams’ leading rusher — he had 63 yards, compared to Malcolm Brown’s 65 — but Gurley ran for two touchdowns among his 15 carries and also caught a 12-yard screen pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, which gave the Rams their final 39-10 margin.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff was efficient but not spectacular, as he completed 18 of 24 attempts for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams, without receiver Cooper Kupp (knee sprain) didn’t look as electric as normal, but they played mistake-free, in strong contrast to the 49ers.

It all looked good to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who stood at one corner of the field and gave handshakes and hugs to players and staffers after the game. One of the biggest grins went to Donald, to whom Kroenke gave a new $135-million contract two months ago. It’s worth it to the Rams, who are grateful not to have to face him.

“I have — and it’s not great, in practice,” Goff said. “He’s a once in a generation player and hopefully I’ll never have to play against him. He’s a great player and great teammate, great guy, and he does everything right.”

Rich Hammond was a high school senior when the Rams left town in 1995, and now he's their beat writer for the Southern California News Group. A native of L.A., Rich broke in at the Daily Breeze as a college freshman and also has covered USC, the Kings, the Lakers and the Dodgers. He still loves sports and telling stories. Don't take the sarcastic tweets too seriously.